1 • INTRODUCTION

Pashtun (also spelled Pushtun, Pakhtun, Pashtoon, Pathan) are a people
who live in southeastern Afghanistan and the northwestern province of
Pakistan. They are one of the largest ethnic groups in Afghanistan.
There is no true written history of the Pashtun in their own land.
Pashtun are traditionally pastoral nomads (herders who move frequently
to find grazing land) with a strong tribal organization. Each tribe is
divided into clans, subclans, and patriarchal families.

2 • LOCATION

Pashtun have lived for centuries between Khurasan and the Indian
subcontinent, at the crossroads of great civilizations.

Pashtun are made up of about sixty tribes of varying sizes. Each one
occupies its own
territory. Pashtun are the major ethnic group in Afghanistan. In
Pakistan, Pashtun predominate north of the town of Quetta and between
the Sulaiman Mountain Ranges and the Indus River.

3 • LANGUAGE

Pashtu is the language of the Pashtun and one of the two official
languages of Afghanistan. It is also the language of twelve million
Pashtun in Pakistan. Pashtu belongs to the North-Eastern group of
languages within the Iranian branch of Indo-European. Pashtu is written
in the Perso-Arabic script.

Some typical examples of the Pashtu language are the words used for
parts of the Pashtun code of morals and manners, called
Pashtunwalli.
These include
milmastia
(hospitality);
tureh
(courage; also the word for sword
); badal
(revenge); and
ghayrat
(protection of one's honor). A Pashtun tribal council is called
a
jirga.

4 • FOLKLORE

Pashtun have many traditional stories, both in their own language and in
Persian. One story tells of a man who wanted to discover how to change
his luck. According to the story, a man may be given the opportunity to
experience luck, but he must have the intelligence to take advantage of
it.

A man asked his lucky brother, "Where is good luck?"
"In the forest," his brother replied. So the unlucky man
set out for the forest. On the way he met a lion. When the lion heard
where the man was going, he begged him to ask why he was ill, and why
nothing made him feel better. When the man had gone a little farther,
he found a horse lying down, too weak to stand. Next he came upon a
tree, who asked the man, "Please, enquire on my behalf, why am
I leafless?" When the man reached the place where he found his
good luck, he seized it. His good luck said, "You may have good
luck, but you still do not have intelligence." The man asked
the questions he carried for the lion, the horse, and the tree. His
fortune replied, "Tell the lion that he should devour a fool
and he will recover his health. Tell the horse that he should take a
master who will ride him and he will grow strong. And tell the tree
that under its roots lies the treasure of seven kings. If the treasure
is dug up, the tree's roots will flourish." On his way
home, the man stopped first by the tree. He told the tree, and the
tree begged him to dig the treasure from his roots. The man replied,
"What good are riches, since I
have my fortune." When he reported to the horse, the animal
begged, "Please, sir, become my master!" But the man
replied, "I have my fortune now, so look for someone else to be
your master." Finally, he reported to the lion that he should
devour a fool—and he told the lion all about the tree and the
horse, too. When the story was finished, the lion said, "You
yourself are a superlative fool!" And, with that, the lion
devoured the man.

He was a man of no cleverness, who could not recognize his
opportunities, so his fortune did him no good.

5 • RELIGION

Islam was introduced to the Pashtun in the eighth century. All but a few
Pashtun tribes are followers of the Sunni Muslim sect.

6 • MAJOR HOLIDAYS

Pashtun celebrate the two major festivals of the Islamic lunar calendar
year:
Eid al-Fitr
and
Eid al-Adha.
They also observe the tenth of Muarram, which commemorates the
martyrdom of the prophet Muhammad's grandson.

7 • RITES OF PASSAGE

Pashtun are automatically considered Muslims (followers of Islam) at
birth. When a baby is born, Pashtun whisper the call for prayer in the
baby's ear. The male circumcision ceremony is held at the same
time as the birth celebration (at about the age of one week). Children
officially join in the rituals of prayers and fasting when they reach
sexual maturity, but in practice they begin much earlier.

8 • RELATIONSHIPS

Pashtun society is largely communal (group-oriented) and attaches great
importance to an unwritten code, called
Pashtunwalli.
This code defines the way members should behave to keep the tribe
together. Hospitality
(milmastia)
is important, as is the use of the tribal council
(jirga)
to resolve conflicts and make decisions. Other Pashtun virtues include
courage
(tureh);
taking revenge
(badal);
and protecting one's honor
(ghayrat).
Another part of the Pashtun code of conduct is
nanawati,
a way of resolving differences through the group's elders.

9 • LIVING CONDITIONS

Generally, the Pashtun of Afghanistan do not have very high living
standards. Many groups of Pashtun along the border between Afghanistan
and Pakistan live as nomads (people who move frequently, carrying their
dwelling with them).

10 • FAMILY LIFE

The eldest male holds complete authority over the extended family.
Married sons live in their fathers' households, rather than
establishing homes of their own. The household normally consists of a
man and his wife, his unmarried children, and his married sons and their
wives and children. When young women marry, they join their
husbands' households and transfer their loyalty to their
husbands' families.

Economically, the Pashtun family is a single unit. Wealthy family
members contribute to the support of those who are poorer. Old people
depend on their children for care and support. The whole family shares
the expense of having a child away at school.

11 • CLOTHING

Traditional male dress is
qmis,
a loose-fitting shirt that reaches to the knees, and
shalwar,
full trousers tied at the waist with a string. A vest is usually worn
over the shirt. Footwear consists of
chaplay,
thick leather shoes. Most Pashtun adult males wear
pagray,
turbans. Long strips of cotton cloth are wound around the head, leaving
the forehead exposed because it is touched during prayer. The turban is
fastened so that one end dangles. The loose end is used as a typ of
washcloth for wiping the face. Usually men also wear a long, wide piece
of cloth called a
chadar
on their shoulders.

Rural women wear baggy black or colored trousers, a long shirt belted
with a sash, and a length of cotton over the head. City women wear the
same type of trousers, a qmis (long shirt), and a cotton cloth to cover
their heads. Over their clothing, they also usually wear a
burqa
—a veil that covers them from the head to below the knees.

Recipe

Quabili Pulaw Dampukht
(Rice with Carrots and Raisins)

Ingredients

2 to 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil

1 onion, chopped

1 pound lean beef stew meat

2 cups water

½ teaspoon each cinnamon, cloves, cumin, and cardamom

2 medium carrots, cut into small, match-stick-sized pieces

1 teaspoon sugar 1 cup seedless raisins

pinch of saffron

2 Tablespoons blanched almonds

2 Tablespoons blanched pistachios

2 to 3 cups rice, cooked in broth from cooking meat

Directions

Heat oil and brown onion. Add beef stew meat and brown on all sides.

Add water and spices. Cover pan and simmer mixture until meat is
tender (about one hour).

Remove meat and set aside. Save the broth to use for cooking rice.

Heat small amount of oil in a small pot and add carrots and almonds.
Cook until carrots and almonds are lightly browned.

Remove carrots and almonds, and add them to the meat. Put raisins in
the saucepan with about ¼ cup water. Simmer for 5 minutes
until raisins are puffy.

Remove raisins and add them to the meat mixture. Cook the rice
according to package directions, using the broth from step 3 for the
liquid, adding more water if necessary.

Combine all ingredients and mix. Place mixture in a large casserole
and bake at 300°
F
for 20 to 30 minutes.

12 • FOOD

Religious prohibitions prevent Pashtun (and all Muslims) from eating
pork and drinking alcoholic beverages. Staples of the Pashtun diet
include bread, rice, vegetables, milk products, meat, eggs, fruits, and
tea. A favorite dish is
pulaw,
a rice dish flavored with coriander, cinnamon, and cardamom that has
many variations.

13 • EDUCATION

Education throughout Afghanistan has been disrupted, first by the
Russian invasion and occupation (1978), and since then by continuing
civil warfare. Traditionally, education took place in religious
institutes and mosque (religious) schools
(
called
madrassa
or
maktab).
As of the late 1990s, there were boys' and girls' schools
for Pashtun children in almost in every village.

14 • CULTURAL HERITAGE

Choral singing is part of the Pashtun culture. Pashtun have a folk song
tradition that includes special songs for marriages and funerals. Poems
known as
matal
are very popular.
Atan
is a famous group folk dance of the Pashtun.

15 • EMPLOYMENT

Pashtun work at a variety of occupations in agriculture, business, and
trade. Women and children also play roles in agricultural work. Many
Pashtun of Afghanistan are poor agricultural workers. Working conditions
are generally better for Pashtun living in Pakistan than for those in
Afghanistan.

16 • SPORTS

Naiza bazi,
a game involving riding horses and throwing spears, is a sport enjoyed
among the Pashtun. Some Pashtun also have rock-throwing competitions.
Pashtun in the northern regions of Afghanistan enjoy
buzkashi,
or "goat pulling," a game in which men on horseback
compete for possession of a dead goat or calf.

17 • RECREATION

Social get-togethers are the major form of entertainment.

18 • CRAFTS AND HOBBIES

The Pashtun in the city sew unique designs on their clothes and wear
small hats made of silk.

19 • SOCIAL PROBLEMS

Differences among Pashtun clans and families have led to much violence
and killing, both in Afghanistan and in Pakistan.

thank's for the beautiful website about pushtoon peoples. it is very good that world should know what are real pushtoon.we should show to the world the pushtoon peoples have got more good thing" than any other nation

Thanks for providing all this info. Pashtun is a hard subject to learn ... much less find online!!! I am planning a trip to Kabul in 2011. It's a real process with the passport, vistas, shots, this and that... All types of FEES!!!

With the trip from Philly, Pennsylvania - to - Kabul, Afghanistan... It costs around $2000 round trip U.S. dollars... If you book a year ahead!!!

i m very happy to see the people like u who make his strong effort for my language.
one thing which you donot mention is that. that pukhton are such kind of people for whome
sucide is easy then broking their promise. they live untile they have honor. they live for
their honor. nothing is important then their honor.

I extremely glade, that we are having such a web introduction to research. Due to shortage of time approximately pukhtune do not know their history, now pukhtune knows about his history, so this is the easiest way to know, show and send to their friends who are from other region and asking about us.
I Proud to be pukhtune.
Khad ao baryali osege.

I deeply thank the gatherer and publisher of this informative subject about pashtoons. It has been a defficult experience for pashtoons these past four decades of foriegn interuptions and civil war in Afghanistan. May Allah give the pashtoons courage and well to restore thier values and once more prove they are what they say and do.

Pashtun is one of the bravey nation in the world and have big heart and very intellegent but for the good hospitility people can call him cleverless.. so we are pukhtoon and proud to be pukhtoon and at the last these people have give pukhtoon no oppertunity thats why we behind the world.
Thanx & Regardz

I love the website,however, I was looking on your description on the Hazara people and it said that there is an unknow census as to how many hazara people live in afghanistan. I checked wikipedia (though that might not be a reliable source) and found that wikipedia said the hazara makes up about 9 percent of the afghan population.

m glad to know all that thanks alot for that..but also i want to know that how many kabeelaa's of pathan & wats the names..i know few of names like yusufzai, kamalzai,akkuzai,& lodi & plz tell me something about lodi's..thanks again
regards
faiz khan

Hats off . . . Its great information about pokhtoons .
The writer had done a tremendous job for giving such information to the world.
This is the basic information given about pukhtoons and for sure now pokhtoons are much more educated,and well developed all over the world e.g Dr.abdul kadir khan (the maker of Atomic power in pakistan) Imran Khan and Shahid Afridi (the great cricketers) & many more.
Pokhtons are specialy known for their braveness and hospitality.
Proud to be a muslim and pokhtana.

I heard of the Pashtun's today (6/01/12), so i looked it up and the information is wonderful. I would like to know where the Pashtun's came from or how they came to be in that territory. According to what I heard, their lifestyle(circumcision) is like that of the Jews and that they are possibly one of the lost tribes of Israel?

Dear Sir,Good basic information about Pashtoons.Basicaly Pashtoons living in the Afghanistan,Paskistan,India and all around the world.They are brave and hard working peoples.They are educated,Royal and very claver people.

Thank you my friend. As a PASHTOON, i appreciate your working according to the pashtons history.
pashtoon tribe is an amazing tribe, because they never accept any one on his top except his Allah.
They are really very strike people in their religion,hospitality and they are brave.they are the greatest enemies if you are enemy with them or they are the greatest honest if you are friend with them.

Asalam Alaykum, I am a Native American Indian from Canada. Last October, I met online and fell in love with a wonderful, kind, caring Pahktun man. He is living and working in UAE, so our relationship has challenges, but that is not an issue.

I have many friends-and male friends as well, now, this upsets my Khawand very much, and he gets so upset that he can't talk to me about it, or explain very well about his culture, and how this makes him look to his malgare, that his Khaza speaks to men. I tried to explain many times that here in Canada, it is not like this, we have that freedom to speak openly with men, and it is not a problem for us.

I can understand about protecting the family honor, we have that system as well in my culture. If someone cares to explain to me, the proper behavior for women of Pakhtun men. I love him with all my heart, and I will do nothing to hurt him or shame him. I would like to know more about the Pakhtun culture and roles of men and women.

If it helps, my Khawand is from the Northwestren Frontier Malakand. I google and find so much conflicting information, and I don't usually trust the internet too much for correct information. I would very much appreciate any help from this community as to what is now expected of me. We haven't met yet in person, he is applying to come here soon though.

Thank you for your help.

P.S. aside from falling in love with my Khawand, I have also fallen in love with the music, the poetry, the language! It is all so beautiful. Just wanted to share that. Thanks again.

salam, pashtun are the bravest people in the world because they have been never defeated actually pashtun has defeated ( Russian, UK, Changiz khan, Maghul, NATO, and USA) as they Russian and UK accepted the fact that they have never defeated pashtun, so good luck

of course pashtoon is and has been remain a brave and intelligent nation on the history's script but when the Britishers came into the subcontinent they pelt that pashtoon are the only nation which cannot be brought into slavery and they felt that their autonomy could be challenged by the only nation which is pashtoon. so, for the minimizing of its influence they started to call them as dull and provided a collective name to them as "khan" which is still used for them in pakistan and india by the ethnic groups.
saud ahmed
MSC sociology ,QAU , Islamabad

I love this site, but the writers should really listen to the problems in the comments. Otherwise I loved this article, especially the part about folklore. The story has a good message-It doesn't matter how much luck you have, you have to be smart enough to use it.

Salam to all,
U did a tremendous job for pakhton history thank u,
Naila there is a good respect of women n pakhton community bt u have to live in parda n muslim community and u cant talk nor meet to such a person that is paraya with out your relatives..